Mac Web Camera News

Shopping for a Mac compatible webcam that's optimized for live streaming, Google hangouts and live YouTube streams? Logitech recently released the MacOS compatible C922 Stream Pro model with some incremental improvements and changes from it's predecessor, the best-selling C920.

With a design style similar to the C920, the C922 Stream Pro features a darker, black housing and mounting clip with standard tripod mount hole for the included mini desktop tripod. (The C922X 'X' model doesn't include the tripod.) Internally improved circuitry enhances the web camera's frame rates to now achieve up to 60 FPS at 720p HD resolution.1080p (which is very demanding no matter how you slice it) capture remains at 30 FPS. Both of these presume you have a very fast Intel CPU - ideally over 2GHZ. It should be noted many Apple computers like the Mac mini and MacBook Air often have much slower processors in the 1Ghz range, although Apple does support a 'Turbo' CPU up-clocking mode to temporarily ramp up the clock speed under demanding tasks when needed. On lesser Mac's you might not reach or sustain maximum frame rates possible.

H.264 video compression is supported on the C922 (as with all premium model Logitech cameras like the C930e, ConferenceCam Connect and Logitech Group.) This helps both frame rates and significantly reduces the size of the data stream or captured files saved to disk. It should also be noted that while the 920 had a Zeiss optics brand lens, the 922 makes no mention of Zeiss's trademark and like the C615 has switched to an optical-quality glass lens instead.

While touting it's optimization for Live Stream broadcasting, the 2 bundled apps/service they promote are WINDOWS ONLY. The Personify green-screen background app, and 3-month XSplit stream mixer subscription aren't supported on the Mac. However, as a UVC 1.5 spec compliant webcam rest assured it will perform admirably on Mac OSX (they recommend MacOS 10.9+) and it's settings can be further tweaked with the Logitech Webcam App or with a 3rd party program such as Mactaris or iGlasses.

These UVC compliant webcams offer plug-and-play compatibility for MacOS Mojave and Sierra as well as earlier incarnations of MacOS Mjoave and Sierra as well as OSX El Capitan, Yosemite, Mavericks, Lion, Leopard and Tiger.